Race Wrap Up

Last week, I left you all with the reasons I race and a predicted time.  The reasons all held up and I had a blast; the prediction, well, not quite time-wise, but I did win my age group at the March Madness Duathlon in Central Park, NY.

EVERY race is a learning experience, and this one was no different.  Coming back from injury means that racing is a bit of a crap shoot, but I felt in decent (if not sharp and super fast) shape and able to compete.  Race day was cold - mid-30s at the start - so a good warm up was important, and I had an OK warm up, though no real ability to warm up on the bike, which I think I paid for later.

In a duathlon, effort management is paramount.  The first run needs to be quick but not over the top given the bike and 2nd run coming afterward.  For me, I hadn't launched into a fast run first thing in the morning in a while either, so I was a bit cautious.  Everything went fine, and I felt in control the whole way, remaining in my comfort zone more than I usually would...which resulted in a time nearly a minute slower than I'd done in the past, but...OK.  A fast transition and a bike mount, and off for two loops of the park.

The bike ride HURT - but I mean in terms of suffering, not injury-type pain (btw, being able to tell the difference is an important skill).  I suspect this is because I was not rested nearly enough, but since this was the first race of the season and not really a focal point, it was OK.  But WOW, the first loop of the park was not fun.  Things improved somewhat the second loop, but my bike time was also a minute slower than in prior years and well slower than I wanted.  Turns out that all the times seemed to be impacted a bit by the cold.

Off the bike to the really rude awakening of the second run.  I'd been doing bricks - runs after bikes, in this case - for weeks, and my strength is typically the run after the bike, but I felt AWFUL the first half-mile.  Welcome back to racing, I guess.  I gutted it out and my legs loosened a bit.  I was able to pick it up (or so it felt) a bit and held off a runner behind me.  I finished in 1:03:33, off my prediction by 1:48, but it was still an AG win and everything felt fine (if not a bit sore) after.

I took away a few things from the race in terms of my fitness, recoverability, and stamina.  All important lessons as the season now begins in earnest.

PS - I'm the guy in the "G" Gatorade kit.

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